Limited Editions Club (LEC)
The Limited Editions Club (LEC) is a renowned publisher of finely crafted, limited-edition books, specializing in beautifully illustrated and designed editions of literary classics and significant works.
Founded in 1929 by George Macy in New York, the club launched amid the stock market crash but persevered through the Great Depression, World War II, and beyond. It operated as a subscription-based service, typically releasing 10–12 titles per year. Each book was produced in a limited run—most commonly 1,500 numbered copies (signed by the illustrator or other contributors in many cases)—featuring high-quality printing, original illustrations (often by prominent artists), fine bindings, and expert typography.
Under Macy’s leadership (until his death in 1956), the LEC emphasized affordability for subscribers while commissioning work from notable illustrators and artists such as Henri Matisse (e.g., Ulysses by James Joyce, 1935), Pablo Picasso (Lysistrata by Aristophanes, 1934), Salvador Dalí, Rockwell Kent, and many others. After Macy, his widow Helen managed it briefly, followed by ownership changes (including Boise Cascade in the 1970s). In 1978, Sidney Shiff took over, shifting toward smaller, higher-priced editions with even more elaborate production.
The club published around 589 titles total from 1929 until its last new releases around 2010. It remains celebrated among book collectors and fine press enthusiasts for its artistic collaborations and production quality.
The best places to find Limited Editions Club (LEC) books online are:
eBay Books
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